If I understood quite aright, you were going to Vivey." "Yes, Mademoiselle, I had hoped to sleep there tonight." "You have probably come," continued she, "on business connected with the chateau.

Is not the heir of Monsieur Odouart expected very shortly ?" "I am that heir," replied Julien, coloring.
"You are Monsieur de Buxieres ?" exclaimed Reine, in astonishment.
Then, embarrassed at having shown her surprise too openly, she checked herself, colored in her turn, and finally gave a rapid glance at her interlocutor.

She never should have imagined this slender young man, so melancholy in aspect, to be the new proprietor--he was so unlike the late Odouart de Buxieres! "Pardon me, Monsieur," continued she, "you must have thought my first welcome somewhat unceremonious, but my first thought was for my father.
He is a great invalid, as you may have noticed, and for the first moment I feared that he had been startled by strange faces." "It is I, Mademoiselle," replied Julien, with embarrassment, "it is I who ought to ask pardon for having caused all this disturbance.

But I do not intend to trouble you any longer.

If you will kindly furnish us with a guide who will direct us to the road to Vivey, we will depart to-night and sleep at the chateau." "No, indeed," protested Reine, very cordially.